Trains,planes, taxis, buses and ferries

Soooo, after spending a fortune to change our flight to come home early, the storm of the century has kept us in England. We had to spend another fortune and almost 24 hours to get from Paris to Oxford, when that flight was canceled. Train from Paris-2 hours late. 15 minutes before our penultimate stop, we are informed we must get off, as that train was no longer going to our destination. They told us to get on a train with no driver. Then they made us walk a loooong way to the local station to catch an other train-1/2 hour late. Then-you guessed it, another train-20 minutes late. As we're packed into this train like sardines, another passenger overheard our conversation as to whether or not to take a cab to the cross Chanel ferry. He assured us that it was within site of the terminal-no need for a cab. So we walk, and walk, and walk, and A HALF HOUR LATER, we arrive at the terminal, to find we have just missed a ferry, and have a two hour wait. Did I mention that walk took place in freezing weather, on slippery, snowy sidewalks while dragging suitcases? Nor did the train personnel who road the last train with us, tell us there was a SHUTTLE BUS! So after a melee to get on the ferry shuttle buses, we had a 2 hour pleasant crossing. We get off, and of course no personnel tell us how to get to the train station to catch the last train to London, that may or may not be running. Seeing the large bunch (no nice queue) to get on the bus, Bryan and I and a couple we had befriended, grabbed a cab. One of us half jokingly asked how much to take us into London from Dover (find it on a map). Only 100 lbs each couple! Great let's go. When we've already spent a fortune, what's another 100??? Or as our good friends say, "When you're drowning, it doesn't matter how deep the water is!" We get to the coach station, and catch the last coach to Oxford, get a cab to the flat, and it's now 3:00 AM, but we're in our home-away-from-home in an English speaking country!
If you haven't heard enough whining, read on. At some point during these adventures, we learn that our flight home the next day (TU) has been cancelled.
It was on Dec 21, and United informs us they have rescheduled us for Dec 27. Meanwhile, the airport reports that major flight disruptions should be over by the morning of the 23rd. Sooo, all the people who ignored the repeated warnings NOT to go to the airport,and who went anyway, are going to get rewarded for bad behavior, and go home before us, who followed directions. I called the airlines and pointed that out, and miraculously, they found us a flight on the 24th. Now we're scheduled to fly through Alberta, Canada, and then to LAX. Weather report good for L0ndon and Alberta, but pray for us, as well other stranded travelers.